U.S. patent application number 12/650048 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for mobility pda surveillance using gps.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T MOBILITY II LLC. Invention is credited to Paritosh Bajpay, Moshiur Rahman.
Application Number | 20110161745 12/650048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44188958 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110161745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rahman; Moshiur ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
Mobility PDA Surveillance Using GPS
Abstract
A method for troubleshooting a mobile device operating in a
network includes receiving a request from the mobile device to a
network server via a global positioning system (GPS) interface;
extracting a report from the network; comparing values in the
report to threshold values; requesting additional data collection
based on the comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and
sending a report to the mobile device. The mobile device may be a
personal digital assistant. The invention includes a system
configured to perform the foregoing method steps.
Inventors: |
Rahman; Moshiur; (Marlboro,
NJ) ; Bajpay; Paritosh; (Edison, NJ) |
Assignee: |
AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
44188958 |
Appl. No.: |
12/650048 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
714/48 ; 709/224;
714/E11.025 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 11/079
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
714/48 ; 709/224;
714/E11.025 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/173 20060101
G06F015/173; G06F 11/07 20060101 G06F011/07 |
Claims
1. A method for troubleshooting a mobile device operating in a
network comprising: receiving a request from the mobile device to a
network server via a global positioning system (GPS) interface;
extracting a report from the network; comparing values in the
report to threshold values; requesting additional data collection
based on the comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and
sending a report to the mobile device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the extracting step is performed
over an internet protocol interface.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional data is collected
by a UTRAN system.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the report includes fault
reports.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fault reports comprise uplink
bit error rate faults.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the fault reports comprise
pathloss data.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the threshold values are
predetermined.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending step is performed
using the GPS interface.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the requesting step is performed
only if the values in the report exceed the threshold values.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing step determines
whether the fault lies within the network or the mobile device.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a personal
digital assistant.
12. A system for troubleshooting a mobile device comprising: a
global positioning system (GPS) in communication with the mobile
device; a wireless network comprising a base station, a mobile
switch and a data gateway; and a network server in communication
with the GPS and the base station, the network server configured to
receive a request from the mobile device via the GPS interface
extract a report from the network, compare values in the report to
threshold values; requesting additional data collection based on
the comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and sending a
report to the mobile device through the GPS network.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the wireless network includes a
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is a PDA.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein the GPS is integral to the
mobile device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The technical field generally relates to mobile network
diagnostics and more specifically to using the global positioning
system (GPS) capability of the network to isolate and diagnose
problems with personal digital assistant (PDA) mobile devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With ubiquitous cellular telephone coverage now the norm,
there has been a more recent proliferation of personal digital
assistant (PDA) mobile devices. If a user experiences a problem
with the PDA, it may not be able to diagnose the problem,
especially if the normal voice connection to customer service is
not available. That may happen when the PDA has no connectivity
with the radio access network (RAN) or poor connectivity with the
RAN. In such a case, it may be difficult or impossible to receive
fault data. As such, a user would not necessarily be able to know
whether she was experiencing a network problem or a problem with
the PDA. This is true, despite the fact that most PDAs have a GPS
capability built in or have communication capability to a GPS unit
using short range wireless communications protocols such as
Bluetooth.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention is directed to using GPS link for
mobility fault management, a novel and unique concept in mobility
surveillance arena. This is done without involving the radio
network controllers, which may be the source of the fault or, if
normal communication with the PDA is not available, then access to
the radio network controllers may be lost. The concept of the
present invention is to detect and isolate PDA faults using UTRAN
fault data (such as pathloss and Uplink Bit error rate (UL BER))
over existing GPS and the Service Assurance connections. The GPS
system knows the exact PDA location and it will help the service
assurance to isolate the fault location either within the wireless
network or external to the wireless network. This feature will
allow a PDA user to send a query to Net Manager Network server on
demand. Service assurance (SA) will be able to monitor and notify
the PDA user about the health of the PDA dynamically with this
capability.
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is a method
for troubleshooting a mobile device operating in a network. The
method includes receiving a request from the mobile device to a
network server via a global positioning system (GPS) interface,
extracting a report from the network, comparing values in the
report to threshold values, requesting additional data collection
based on the comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and
sending a report to the mobile device. The threshold values may be
predetermined. The method is performed using internet protocol for
the extracting step and the additional data is performed by
elements included in the UTRAN. The reports include fault reports
which may include, but are not limited to uplink bit error rate
faults and pathloss data. The analyzing step determines whether the
fault lies within the network or the mobile device. In one
embodiment of the invention, the sending step is performed using
the GPS interface. According to another embodiment of the
invention, the requesting step is performed only if the values in
the report exceed the threshold values. The mobile device may be a
personal digital assistant (PDA).
[0005] The invention is also directed to a system for
troubleshooting a mobile device. The system includes a global
positioning system (GPS) in communication with the mobile device; a
wireless network comprising a base station, a mobile switch and a
data gateway; and a network server in communication with the GPS
and the base station. The network server is configured to receive a
request from the mobile device via the GPS interface extract a
report from the network, compare values in the report to threshold
values; requesting additional data collection based on the
comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and sending a report
to the mobile device through the GPS network. The wireless network
may include a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The
mobile device may be a PDA and the PDA may have the GPS integral to
the mobile device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The following description is better understood when read in
conjunction with the appended drawings.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exemplary system that is configured for
receiving a request using the GPS system in accordance with the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an
exemplary method in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0009] There are certain data relating to performance measurement
which are collected and available in the radio access network (RAN)
of a wireless communications network. The exemplary embodiments of
the present invention will be directed to using RAN measurement
data and other data residing within existing UMTS Terrestrial Radio
Access Network (UTRAN) equipment using a global positioning system
(GPS) link.
[0010] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown the system 10 which
may be constructed in an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The present invention will be described as implemented
in a 3G network in an exemplary embodiment, but the invention is
not necessarily limited to implementation only on a 3G network and
may also include 4G, CDMA, WDCMA, and any other types of wireless
communications networks. The system 10 includes a mobile handset 12
which includes user equipment (UE) 16 and a GPS function 14. It
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the UE 16 and
the GPS 14 may be integrally constructed into a single mobile
handset 12 or that the UE 16 and the GPS 14 may be separate with
the GPS 14 being external to the mobile handset 12. The GPS 14 is
in data communication with the GPS server 18 across airlink 17,
which GPS server 18 in turn is in data communication with network
server 20 across IP interface 19. Network server 20 is preferably
located within the wireless service provider's network (not shown)
but may be external to the wireless service provider's network but
connected therethrough. The network server 20 may provide a variety
of functionality, but in particular and in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, may include a service
assurance function.
[0011] The network server 20 interfaces with a UMTS Terrestrial
Radio Access Network (UTRAN) system 22 through an IP interface 21.
IP interface 21 connects to one or more base stations, or Node Bs
24, forming part of the UTRAN system 22. The Node B 24 is in
wireless communication with the mobile handset 12 over air
interface 15. Node B 24 is also in data communication with one or
more Radio Network Controller (RNC) 26 internal to the UTRAN and
the RNC 26 is in data communication with Mobile Switching Center
(MSC) 28 external to the UTRAN and the SSGN 30 external to the
UTRAN in accordance with the exemplary embodiment set forth in FIG.
1.
[0012] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, under
normal operations, the mobile handset 12 may be a personal digital
assistant, or PDA. The mobile handset 12 communicates wirelessly
with the UTRAN 22 through interface 15. The mobile handset 12 also
communicates wirelessly with the GPS server 18 to provide the
network access to the location of the mobile handset 12. It will be
noted by those skilled in the art that the mobile handset 12 that
includes GPS capability communicates with a GPS satellite to obtain
location information. If there is a problem with the performance of
the mobile handset 12 operating on the wireless network, the mobile
device has access to the UTRAN through wireless interface 15 for
diagnostic purposes and for reaching a customer service operator.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a second
diagnostic path for the mobile handset 12 to the UTRAN 22 is
provided through the GPS server 18 and the network server 20.
[0013] An exemplary process flow for the using the GPS server 18
and network server 20 for diagnostic purposes is set forth in FIG.
2 which will be described in conjunction with the network
architecture of FIG. 1 wherein the mobile handset 12 is a PDA with
a GPS connection 14. In this solution both PDA and the GPS receiver
preferably communicate using a short distance Wi-Fi, such as
Bluetooth. As shown in the diagram, at step 100, a mobile handset
12 sends a request which may, for example be a Query Net Manager
(QNM) message. At step 102, network server 20 will receive a
request from the mobile handset 12 based on the IP address by way
of the GPS link 17 and GPS server 18 and the IP link 19 without
going through the UTRAN 22. The request will initially be analyzed
by the network server 20 using internal logic to analyze the
problem, isolate the problem and notify the user about the results
of the troubleshooting. At step 104, the network server 20 sends a
message to Node B 24 requesting previous RTT measurement reports
which had been previously collected. That data may, for example,
include Pathloss and uplink Bit error rates (UP BER) data. At step
106, the network server 20 receives the report from the Node B 24.
The network server 20 will analyze the received report to determine
if the value of the measurements, for example Pathloss or UP BER,
exceed a certain pre-defined threshold at step 108. If not, there
is no further diagnostic action taken by the network server 20 at
step 116 and a message will be sent to the mobile handset 12
confirming same. If the measurements exceed a threshold, a request
for the UTRAN to collect more real time data is made at step 110.
This may be done by the network server communicating with the Node
B 24 to the mobile handset 12. At step 112, the network server
analyzes the collected data. At step 114, the network server 20
reports the results of the troubleshooting back to the mobile
handset 12 using the GPS path. Based on that analysis, if it is
determined that there is an application problem on the mobile
handset, it is possible that the Network Server can take some
action remotely to fix the problem or otherwise notify the PDA user
about the problem. If it is determined to be a network problem, the
network server 20 is then able to notify the network service team
about the problem.
[0014] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
present invention will allow the PDA user to diagnose and resolved
a range of possible problems which may occur either in the PDA or
the network. It is able to do so using an existing GPS link in a
novel way. As such, the method and system of the present invention
will assist in identifying the cause of the problem and providing
the solution remotely while doing so quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, by early detection and resolution, it may be possible
to avoid major outages in the network and the resultant revenue
loss.
[0015] While the present invention has been described in connection
with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be
understood that other similar embodiments can be used or
modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiment
for performing the same function without deviating therefrom. For
example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the definitions
and scopes of mobile alerts as described in the present application
may apply to any environment, whether wired or wireless, and may be
applied to any number of such devices connected via a
communications network and interacting across the network.
Therefore, the method and system of defining mobile alerts should
not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be
construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended
claims.
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